Almost 200 volunteers showed up on Saturday, Sept. 17 to build a playground in one day. Children in this area haven't had a usable playground to play on in more than five years.

"You didn't just get a playground. You got a unique, one-of-a-kind playground. Designed by the community," said Jacob Stachler, Project Manager at KaBOOM!.

"It's not your typical sort of playspace. It takes into consideration all ages," said Cara Ciminillo, founder of the Playful Pittsburgh Collaborative and Executive Director of Pittsburgh Association for the Education of Young Children (PAEYC).

The Playful Pittsburgh Collaborative, PAEYC, Hazelwood Initiative and KaBOOM! teamed up to plan the project. The Heinz Endowments funded the playspace. Dozens of volunteers from the neighborhood got sweaty and dirty to add the play showcase to their neighborhood. From cutting weeds to providing water for the volunteers, neighbors of all ages played an important part of getting the project completed.

"Look at what we did! It's amazing!" said Sonya Tilghman, Executive Director of Hazelwood Initiative.

"I just want to come back here and play every day," said Lauren Schulusser, volunteer from the University of Pittsburgh.

Additional thank yous must go out to Councilman Corey O'Connor, Tiffini Gorman from the Mayor's Office and the Zone 4 Pittsburgh Police Station for their support.

The new KaBOOM! playspace is the main attraction along the Hazelwood Play Trail. Next up for construction will be the Elizabeth Street Parklet.